Canters or Conohook Island (Con Hook)

Lincoln Diamant in Chaining the Hudson discusses the
deliberations of Congress and General Washington about the best
location for a chain and boom which would prevent the British
from sending ships up the Hudson River. Colonel James Clinton, a
native of New Windsor and an experienced soldier ion the colonial
wars against the French, recommended 1775 that Martlaer's Rock
(Constitution Island) be fortified and that a chain be stretched
across from Wset Point to the Island. When Congress rejected the
cost of the fortifications on the island, construction began
onthe southern forts- Clinton, Montgomery and Independence. In
May 1776 a Lieutenant Henry Livingston was sent to survey the
parts of the Hudson which could best be fortified by a chain. His
conclusion, sent to General Washington, was that the most
advantageous point was between Con Hook-" an Eminence that
Commands a Long reach both up and down the River." and
Manitou on the east side of the river. However Con Hook was
judged to be defenseless against British attack and that site was
abandoned in favor of the Fort Montgomery chain site.